glycolysis

noun

gly·​col·​y·​sis glī-ˈkä-lə-səs How to pronounce glycolysis (audio)
: the enzymatic breakdown of a carbohydrate (such as glucose) by way of phosphate derivatives with the production of pyruvic or lactic acid and energy stored in high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP
glycolytic adjective

Examples of glycolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Energy production: Magnesium is required for glycolysis and energy production (glycolysis is the pathway in which energy is formed from the breakdown of glucose) Glucose control: Magnesium is needed for the enzymatic reactions that work to manage glucose levels. Jennifer Lefton, Ms, Rd/n, Cnsc, Fand, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025 That shift activates glycolysis—a process that improves glucose utilization and lowers blood glucose levels. John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025 Emory researchers were already conducting a clinical trial of atomoxetine as an Alzheimer’s treatment, so the protein researchers piggybacked on the trial to test whether the drug would impact glycolysis dysfunction. Rohan Rajeev, STAT, 28 June 2024 Tumor cells, in contrast, often use far more inefficient glycolysis, which foregoes oxygen and instead uses additional glucose to yield lesser amounts of ATP. David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 1 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for glycolysis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glycolysis was in 1892

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Cite this Entry

“Glycolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glycolysis. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

glycolysis

noun
gly·​col·​y·​sis glī-ˈkäl-ə-səs How to pronounce glycolysis (audio)
plural glycolyses -ˌsēz How to pronounce glycolysis (audio)
: the enzymatic breakdown of a carbohydrate (as glucose or glycogen) by way of phosphate derivatives with the production of pyruvic or lactic acid and energy stored in high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP

called also Embden-Meyerhof pathway

glycolytic adjective
glycolytically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on glycolysis

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